Coin wrapping machine

ABSTRACT

A machine is disclosed preferably for wrapping coins, and includes a conveyor and inclined plate means for assembling a plurality of coins on edge adjacent one another to form a roll of loose coins and means for wrapping a sheet of material around the loose coins. This disclosure is particularly directed to the hopper means for storing the loose coins and the conveyor means which comprises a plurality of buckets, spaced chain means for supporting the buckets, and support means for the spaced chain means. The buckets are supported so that they travel in two different paths including a generally vertical path and a generally horizontal path. The coins being discharged from the chutes as they assume the horizontal path of travel.

United States Patent 1191 Pilat 1111 3,827,546 145 Aug. 6, 1974 COIN WRAPPING MACHINE [54] 1,346,457 7/1920 Leja 133/3 H 1,944,932 1/1934 Gemeny et al 198/141 [75] lnvemor- Pele Rockaway, 2,016,793 10/1935 Tveit 198/141 x [73] Assignee: The National State Bank, Elizabeth,

N Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Filed p 29 1971 Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts [21] Appl. No.: 138,774 [57] ABSTRACT Related US, Application D t A machine is disclosed preferably for wrapping coins, [62] Division of ser No 759 322 Sept 12 968 PM and includes a conveyor and inclined plate means for No 3,608,271 l assembling a plurality of coins on edge adjacent one another to form a roll of loose coins and means for [52] U.S. Cl. 198/53 Wrapping a sheet of material around the loose coins- [51] Int. Cl. 865g 47/18 This disclosure is Particularly directed to the hopper 5 Field f Search 198/53 DIG 11 5 140, means for storing the loose coins and the conveyor 198/194, 141; 133/3 R 3 B, 3 D, 3 H; means which comprises a plurality of buckets, spaced 1 193/1316 1 chain means for supporting the buckets, and support means for the spaced chain means. The buckets are 5 References Cited supported so that they travel in two different paths in- UNITED STATES PATENTS cluding a generally vertical path and a generally horizontal path. The coins being discharged from the I g; 3 332 32 chutes as they assume the horizontal path of travel. 1:326:1 17 12/1919 Thomas :22: .12.. 198/55 x 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Q03 234 7 775 204 325 2 02 0 501 27 303 46 507 420 [a a1 8015 803 r. 1% 2 24 2 0 0 9 5 46 47 47 405 4023 8 1 as? 440 423 42s \Qo 60 Y 521 2 7o 67 /42$ 4% 424 407 2 a O I I 2Il 4 7 429 Q15 1 :51 1] IO 4 31 430 406 21112 1540 l 2 11 T 10s 220 1156 o 219 2|? I O1 1 COIN WRAPPING MACHINE RELATED APPLICATION This is a divisional application of Ser. No. 759,322 filed Sept. 12, 1968, and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,271 issued Sept. 28, 1971.

This invention relates to a coin wrapping machine and more. particularly to the portion of the coin wrapping machine wherein the loose coins are removed from a storage hopper and deposited in a flat condition in readiness for turning to form a roll.

A present type of coin wrapping machine utilizes a spinning hopper which separates the coins by throwing them to the outside of the hopper and the coins drop one at a time down a chute on top of each other until a roll is formed. Thus, it is necessary to wait until forty or fifty coins have been separated and dropped individually one on top of the other. The coins are'dropped into preformed cartridges and the cartridges released from the roll forming machine either by hand or automatically. Thereafter, the open end of the cartridgeis crimped by a crimping machine to close the cartridge. The cartridges are unnecessarily bulky at their ends and unnecessarily consume space and handling time before being packaged with coins.

In the present invention, each roll of coins is assembled all at once for wrapping and it is unnecessary to wait for individual coins to stack until the necessary coins are accumulated. The coins to be wrapped are placed in a hopper and feed to an upright conveyor. The conveyor has buckets which lift the coins from the hopper onto a feeding plate where they are distributed to two or more ribbed plates which are separated into channels for separating the coins into rows. Each of the channels feeds into a coin turning mechanism which moves the coins from horizontal position to vertical position so that the coins thereafter move forward through the coin track on edge.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coin wrapping machine which forms a roll of coins all at once and thereafter wraps the roll in a thin plastic film to provide a wrap with minimum bulk.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin wrapping machine in which the coins are moved from a hopper to a chute by a conveyor which keeps a constant flow of coins in the coin chute in order to keep the wrapping portion of the machine supplied with coin rolls.

These and other objects of the invention not specifically 'set forth above will become readily apparent from the accompanying description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roll of coins wrapped by the machine of the present invention and showing the twisted, heat sealed, plastic film at one end;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the complete coin wrapping machine;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 showing the complete coin wrapping machine;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 and partly in section and illustrating the hopper and conveyor for the coins;

FIG. -5 is a partial sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the hopper and the conveyor buckets attached to the conveyor-chains;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view along line 6-6 to FIG. 3 showing the path followed by the conveyor buckets;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of a conveyor bucket carried by the wire mesh supported by the conveyor chains.

GENERAL OPERATION Referring to the embodiment of the invention chosen for purposes of illustration, the coin wrapping machine 9 has hopper section 10 having an open top 12 into which the loose coins 19 are fed. The hopper is defined by sides 13 and 14, a slanting bottom 15 and a slanting end wall 16. A vibrator 17 is located on the bottom panel 15 to continually move the coins along with gravity toward the lower comer 18 of the hopper (see FIG. 4). The conveyor for the machine is generally designated as 20 and comprises a pair of space chains 21 and 22 having a flexible wire mesh 23 (see FIG. 5) extending between the chains and coin buckets 24 are spaced along the mesh. The conveyor chains 21 and 22 and wire mesh 23 follow a sharp angle over the chute portion 30 of the machine which comprises two flat plates 31 and 32 with the upper plate 31 having a plurality holes 33 therein to distribute some of the coins to the lower plate 32. The coins move along the plates 31 and 32 onto the coin turning section designated generally as 40. The turning section and the remainder of the apparatus shown in the drawings is not discussed in detail herein but has been covered thoroughly in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,271.

HOPPER 10 The end wall 16 of the hopper 10 connects with a lower panel 102 having tapered end 101 which directs the coins 19 to the bottom slot 102a in panel 102.The coins pass from the compartment 12 into compartment 103 between side members 104 and 105 which further narrow down the passage for the coins. The conveyor chains 21, 22 and buckets 24 are covered by a plate 107, and slot 106 is located between bottom panell8 and the lower end of panel 107. The width of slot 102a can be varied by the position of a panel 108 which contains slots 109 receiving bolts 110 passing through the panel 102. The amount of coins moved to the conveyor buckets 24 by gravity and vibrator 17 can therefore be controlled by adjusting the width of slot 102a. A rod 111 extends between the side members 104 and 105 and pivotally mount a plurality of fingers 112 under which the coins must pass. The fingers serve to smooth out and separate the coins into a single layer.

CONVEYOR 20 The two endless chains 21 and 22 of section 20 each pass over a sprocket wheel 201 at the lower part of the machine and over sprocket wheels 202,203, and 204 at the top of the machine so that each chain has the same shape illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. The continuous, flexible metal mesh 23 extends between the chains 21 and 22 and is supported by a plurality of narrow bands 208 extending between the chains at spaced intervals. Each bucket is secured to a band 208 by a plurality of bolts 209 spaced along the bands (see FIG. 24) and connected at their ends to corresponding link of the opposite chains 21 and 22. An upright member is located at each side of the machine frame and has one side 211 attached to the frame by bolts 211a. The other side 210 3 of each upright member carried a chain guide 210a (see FIG. 5) which guides the chains 21 and 22 in the upward direction. Opposite ends of the buckets are covered by sides 212 of angle irons which are supported by'angle member 213 connected to plate 107 so that the member 212 on opposite ends of the buckets extend vertically along the buckets to retain the coin in the buckets along with cover plate 107. The other sides 214 of the angle irons serve as top covers for the chains 21 and 22 opposite the guides 211. An angle member 225 extends between the sides 211 and supports idle gears 216 which take up the slack in the chains 21 and 22 as they move downwardly. A bottom cross piece 227 extends between the end legs 218 of the frame and serves as a support for motor 219 which has an output pulley wheel 220 driving a belt 221 (see FIG. 4). The.

shaft 222 for the sprocket wheels 201 extends between the lower end of sides 211 and are supported for rotation by pillow blocks 223 mounted on sides 210. A pulley wheel 224 on the shaft 222 serves as a drive for the chain sprockets 201 which are located on opposite sides of the hopper for driving chains 21 and 22. The sides 212 extend above the open top of the hopper along with cover plate 107 to form a continuous cover for the coins in the buckets 24 which are backed by the flexible wire mesh 23.

A support 227 extends outwardly from each of the sides 211 and each support carries one of the sprockets 202 (see FIG. 4). Also, the end of each support carries a pillow block 228. for the shaft 229 of each sprocket wheel 203. Each of the sprocket wheels 204 is supported by a pillow block 234 located in a groove in the adjacent side 211. A cover plate 235 can be attached to each of the sides 211 in order to cover the sprocket 203 and 204 on each side of the machine.

In operation of the conveying portion 20, the coins are fed to the buckets 24 through the slot 106 by means of the vibrator 17 and the force of gravity and the buckets are loaded along their length, the coins being retained in the buckets by the back metal mesh as the buckets are moved upwardly by chains 21 and 22 at an angle to the vertical. When the buckets reach the sprocket 202, they move outwardly in the direction of the support 227 which causes the coins in the bucket to be discharged onto the chute portion 30 of the machine. The metal mesh 23 behind the buckets insures that all of the coins will fall forward onto the chute portion as the buckets move outwardly over the chute portion. The chains then move around the sprocket wheels 203 so that the buckets ,reverse direction and travel back around pinions 204 and down to the pinion 201 Where the buckets are again moved upwardly to receive another load of coin. Thus, a continuous supply of coins will be deposited on the chute portion 30 and any detrimental spillage of the coins is prevented by the mesh backing of the buckets and the top and side covers for the conveyor.

1 claim:

1. In a wrapping machine:

hopper means for storing loose flat objects and having an object discharge opening;

object conveying means comprising a plurality of buckets passing upwardly adjacent said discharge opening to receive said objects;

a pair of parallel chains following identical paths and having a layer of continuous material extending therebetween;

means for mounting said buckets on said material to extend between said chains;

and a plurality of closely spaced fingers positioned adjacent said object discharge opening for segregating said objects into a layer;

said plurality of fingers being pivoted at one end and extending in the direction of feed of said objects from said hopper means.

2. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim I having:

cover means located around said buckets and chains and disposed closely adjacent said buckets to prevent said objects from falling from said buckets; said chains being tilted backwardly from the vertical during upward movement along said paths so that said material retains said objects in said buckets.

3. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said chain paths move said buckets upwardly and then laterally to discharge said objects from said buckets.

4. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 3 having:

plate means for receiving said discharged objects and arranging said objects in rows in flat condition;

said chains moving said buckets upwardly to an elevation above said plate means and thereafter moving said buckets outwardly over said plate means to deposit said objects on said plate means.

5. In a wrapping machine:

hopper means for storing loose flat objects and having an object discharge opening;

object conveying means comprising a plurality of buckets passing upwardly adjacent said discharge opening to receive said objects;

a pair of parallel chains following identical paths and having a layer of continuous material extending therebetween;

means for mounting said buckets on said material to extend between said chains;

and plate means for receiving said discharged objects and arranging said objects in rows in flat condition;

said chains moving said buckets upwardly to an elevation above said plate means and thereafter moving said buckets outwardly over said plate means to deposit said objects on said plate means;

said plate means including first and second plates with said first plate disposed over said second plate and having a plurality of openings therethrough for passing at least some of said objects from said first plate to said second plate.

6. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 5 wherein:

said first and second plates are generally parallel to each other and inclined downwardly at their ends remote from said parallel chains. 

1. In a wrapping machine: hopper means for storing loose flat objects and having an object discharge opening; object conveying means comprising a plurality of buckets passing upwardly adjacent said discharge opening to receive said objects; a pair of parallel chains following identical paths and having a layer of continuous material extending therebetween; means for mounting said buckets on said material to extend between said chains; and a plurality of closely spaced fingers positioned adjacent said object discharge opening for segregating said objects into a layer; said plurality of fingers being pivoted at one end and extending in the direction of feed of said objects from said hopper means.
 2. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 1 having: cover means located around said buckets and chains and disposed closely adjacent said buckets to prevent said objects from falling from said buckets; said chains being tilted backwardly from the vertical during upward movement along said paths so that said material retains said objects in said buckets.
 3. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 1 wherein: said chain paths move said buckets upwardly and then laterally to discharge said objects from said buckets.
 4. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 3 having: plate means for receiving said discharged objects and arranging said objects in rows in flat condition; said chains moving said buckets upwardly to an elevation above said plate means and thereafter moving said buckets outwardly over said plate means to deposit said objects on said plate means.
 5. In a wrapping machine: hopper means for storing loose flat objects and having an object discharge opening; object conveying means comprising a plurality of buckets passing upwardly adjacent said discharge opening to receive said objects; a pair of parallel chains following identical paths and having a layer of continuous material extending therebetween; means for mounting said buckets on said material to extend between said chains; and plate means for receiving said discharged objects and arranging said objects in rows in flat condition; said chains moving said buckets upwardly to an elevation above said plate means and thereafter moving said buckets outwardly over said plate means to deposit said objects on said plate means; said plate means including first and second plates with said first plate disposed over said second plate and having a plurality of openings therethrough for passing at least some of said objects from said first plate to said second plate.
 6. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 5 wherein: said first and second plates are generally parallel to each other and inclined downwardly at their ends remote from said parallel chains. 